Coil binder



Oct. 20, 1942. R TAUBER 2,299,715

0011. BINDER Filed Sept. 12,1941

3&

24 INENTOR.

A TTORNEYS 81/004 F 74 use? Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIL BINDER Rudolf Tauber, New York, N. Y. Application September 12, 1941, Serial No. 410,508

(Cl. 28l 21) 3 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to book binding and more particularly to devices for maintaining an assemblage of paper sheets, either with or without covers, in predetermined orderly relation.

It is Well known that metallic wires have been helically coiled and used for this purpose by being passed successively through spaced perforations in the rear margin of such sheets.

An objection to such binders exists in the obvious fact that upon opening the book flat, the pages or sheets on one side become out of register lengthwise with those on the opposite side, a distance approximately equal to one half the pitch, or space distance between adjacent coils.

It will also be understood that if no provision is made to securely anchor such coil, it may, due to friction encountered in turning the sheets, handling, etc., gradually creep outward at one end or the other.

A further undesirable efiect occurs in metal coils by reason of their aptitude to become corroded by moisture from the hands and other contacts, discoloring the sheets held by them; furthermore, such coils are usually made of thin wire, so that upon the application of any considerable strain on a single leaf or sheet, it will unintentionally tear loose.

Having these matters in mind it is an object of this invention to provide a helical coil binder device so contrived as to avoid the stated objections, in that the pages of the book are restrained from relative lengthwise movement when opened, and remain at all times in register, due to the reversed or contra-winding of portions of the coil.

A further feature is in constructing the coils from a highly flexible round plastic strand not subject to corrosion or discoloration, preferably somewhat larger in cross sectional area than the usual metallic Wire used for this purpose, and having a solid color throughout, in conformity with, or in contrast to, the book covers, as may be desired.

Another purpose is to provide efficient means for preventing the terminals of the coils from passing through the perforations in the leaves or cover of the book, thereby anchoring the coils against longitudinal movement therein.

These advantageous objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts, made from selected plastic material, as hereinafter described and shown in the annexed drawing, constituting a graphical component of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a conventional type of closed book showing the application of an embodiment of th invention.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing a modification in application of the binder coil.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan View of a bound book in fully opened flat position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view illustrating one method of anchoring the 'coils of the binder relative to a book.

Figure 5 is an end View thereof. 1

Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 4, bu showing another form of coil strand and an alternative end securing means.

. Figure 7 is an end view of the same.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the applied binder, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a tripl strand coil showing a color combination. 7

Referring to the drawing, the book X, shown in the several views, may consist of a plurality of pages .or sheets Y, substantially uniform in size and either with or without covers, inconformity with its nature and purpose, I 1

In the rear margin of the elements comprising the book, is a straight row of uniformly spaced circular perforations [5, formed by punching or drilling, of a size somewhat in excess of the diameter of a connecting strand, the cross section of which is shown best in Figure 4, or, as modified in Figure 6.

In practicing the invention, the strand is made of a selected plastic material, such, for instance, as a cellulose acetate derivative, known as Pyralin of any preferred cross section, preferably round, and in any chosen color, which is uniform throughout; the strand presents a smooth, glossy finished surface and possesses a degree of strength and elasticity far exceeding actual requirements.

This strand is wound, under attendant conditions of heat and pressure, into a helical coil of equally spaced convolutions and of uniform diameter, the spacing being determined by the distance between adjacent perforations in the book, and the diameter in accordance with the thickness of the book it will be used in connection with.

As shown in Figure 1, two coils l1l8 are used, one of which, as IT, is wound right hand, and the other [8 is wound left hand, both being threaded through the perforations I5, in the manner of a screw, and meeting midway the length of the book, as at l9, where they are preferably joined after insertion, thereby preventing either portion from becoming inadvertently loosened.

In the modification, shown in Figure 2, shorter coils 20-2l, respectively right and left, are inserted in the book at spaced intervals. In thin books having stiff pages, the binder coil may be interrupted for economical reasons.

In this View it is noted that on one or both ends of each short coil, the end of the strand has integrally formed upon it a button-like knob 22, shown best in Figures 6 and 7, produced by any suitable means, as for instance the application of a heated pincher-like tool, manually applied after insertions of the coil, forming a permanent anchorage, as the knob is larger in size than the perforations so it can not pass therethrough.

Figures 6 and '7 also show a strand 2 l having a modified cross section in which the outer portion is arcuately curved and the inner surface fiat; it is to be understood that the invention is not limited as to the cross section of the strand selected.

In Figures 4 and 5, the outermost coil 23 is shown as having a bevelled end 24 which, upon being brought into forcible contact with the next adjacent coil, by a suitable heated tool, is caused to firmly adhere, forming a closed ring 25 nonseparable from the perforation in which it is disposed. Similar results may be attained by the application of a solvent, or a suitable cement.

In any event, when the book is opened flat, the perforations, being in register in all the several pages, cause the connecting flexible coils to assume substantially straight across parallel positions at the inner, open side and angular positions at the outer side, that is at the back of the book.

This condition is due to the contra-winding of equal portions of the binding coils, which, by reason of their compensating reversed angularity, operate to maintain the pages or sheets uniformly level at their upper and lower edges, as best seen in Figure 8.

As the coils are anchored at their ends, creeping or longitudinal movement, such as might occur by friction or handling, is prevented, and,

due to the size of the strands, relative to the usual fine wire, the tendency to tear out is materially avoided.

Such condition may be further evaded by the use of a substantially flat strip 25, composed of two or more united strands 21, 28 and 29, as shown in Figure 9, and, if preferred, each strand may be of a diiierent color, as red, white and blue, thus constituting an attractive as well as a highly efiective binder.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details may be made without departure from the scope defined in the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed the invention, what is claimed as new and sought to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination with a book containing a multiplicity of leaves, said book having a plurality of uniformly spaced perforations in its rear margin, a helically coiled strand of non-metallic material threaded through certain portions of said perforations, said coil being wound lefthand, and a second coil passed through the remaining perforations, said second coil being wound right-hand.

2. In combination with a book having a plurality of uniformly spaced perforations in its rear margin, of a helically coiled strand of non-metallic material threaded through certain of said perforations, said coil being wound left-hand, and a second coil passed through others of said perforations, said second coil being wound righthand, said coils being spaced apart one from the other.

3. In coil binders for books having circular perforations in their rear margin, one or more pairs of helical coils of round non-metallic material of lesser diameter than the perforations, each unitary convolution of each coil being engaged in an individual perforation, said coils being wound in opposite directions, and the ends of each coil being upset by pressure in the presence of heat after insertion.

' RUDOLF TAUBER. 

